Here is my experience ... typed one handed three days post shoulder surgery. Last May I experienced pain and limited range of motion after some weight work in the gym. I let it rest a few weeks and returned to the gym workout and things were not better. After a few weeks more rest, the same experience was repeated. I made an appointment with a local orthopod known for his shoulder expertise. He first suggested using bands to do some rehab. I did that for a few weeks with some modest improvement, but I still could not throw a ball other than under handed. The next step was an MRI, which was not at all definitive. The doc suggested that MRIs may or may not be helpful in identifying the problem and in my case it was not at all helpful. He then suggested a cortisone shot and that worked well for about three or four weeks, then I was back to pain and limited range of motion. The next step was surgery to repair whatever he found ... it was a torn bicep tendon and required some pins or something like that to repair. The surgery was a breeze, the recovery is very painful and I will be in a sling for six weeks. I am hopeful the short term loss of road biking will have long term payoffs.

Up untill the surgery I kept riding with some days and rides more painful than others. I guess the short version is that there is no one answer since each injury is different and how it is treated depends on your doc and your preferences and tolerances.

Good luck